The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-03-31
SOUTH AMERICAN WONDERS
Dr. Rosby's Experience with the Natives
and the Native Animals.

There is a big room or two up at
Columbia College in which are spread
abroad more wonders than We're ever
dreamt of in Horatio's philosophy.
Birds, beasts, fishes, plants of strange
nature, Indian relics, and all manner
of South American wonders are here,
the prizes captured in two years
struggle with danger and suffering by
an American scientific investigator.
The owner of these treasures is DIR.
Henry H. Rosby of Detroit, who, rep
resenting Parke, Davis & Co. of that
city, Jan 10, 1855, left New York for
tour through Chill and Bolivia in the
hope of discovering amid the fauna
and fora of the Andes and the ANA
zon some valuable additions to the
medicinal riches of the American phar-
macopRia.
DR.. Rosby's adventures were many
and interesting, and in due time will
be given to the world in book, He
met the sorocho in his native lair, did
battle with the Caripuna Indians and
the man-eating fish and alligators of
the Benz River, broiled in the stenches
| of La Paz, the filthiest city this side of
Constantinople, took his daily dose of
! Guinine like little man, and saw the
place where 5000 900 cinchona trees
| are growing, the source from which all
the calisaya cocktails of the future
must come From all this he came out
much the worse for wear, but still full
| of enthusiasm.
| DR.. Rosby intended to land at NAL
lendo and go direct to Bolivia, but the
Peruvian war prevented. Gen. Caceras
was making things lively for the au-
thoritieS. So he was obliged to travel
by mule from Tacma to La Paz, a
seven days journey, going from africa
to Tacma by rail, tough journey
across desert, without the shade of a
spear of grass to relieve the monotony.
| 1.-The whole country of africa and
Tacma has been captured by the Chill
ians," said the doctor. 'sIt is to be
kept for ten years. Al the end of that
| time the inhabitants will vote whether
to remain in Chill or go back to Peru.
The country which gets them must pay
$40, 900, 900 for the prize. Meanwhile
Chill is doing everything possible to
make things pleasant for the people
with music and games. The Chilians'
present purpose is to have United
States of South America, capturing
the other countries little by little, and
gradually adding to their strength and
wealth. They are bloodthirsty peo-
pie, loving war, and extremely brutal in
carrying it on. They murder men,
women, and children with impartial
cruelty, ripping them open with big
knives.
.'Our journey from Taema was one
of terrible suffering. 1t was upon a
high tsbleland, reaching an elevation
of 16,5OO feet, and for five days we
journeyed at an average elevation of
1900 feet. The air was so rarefied
that we suffered much from sorocho,
the chief symptoms of which were
difficulty in breathing, prostrating
muscular weakness, and bleeding at
the nose and ears. We passed the
beautiful volcano of Tacoso, which dis
charges across the road river, the
water of which is fatal to human life.
Men often commit suicide on the table
land, they suffer so much from sorocho.
There is also great danger from light
ming, which is frequent and violent" :"
Dr. Rosby crossed the Andes with
much tribulation, and went to work
among the valleys of the eastern slope.
He advises investors to keep away from
the old Spanish silver mines, and says
that any belief that they were cruilciy
worked is mistake. The Spaniarls
did not leave much mineral richness
behind in their mines. ''In Bolivia, :"
he said, .shalf the silver is counterfeit.
A Consul who had grown tired of
making coin sold his counterfeiting
machine to one of our party. And
wish to say right here that up to the
present Administration the diplomatic
service sent to Bolivia from our coun-
try has been scandalous. Drunken
ness, bribery, and the counterfeiting of
money have made Americas agents a
byword among the Bolivians. wish
to except Mr.. Gibbs and one other,
who We're honest men and much liked
by the natives
The doctor proposes to stir up these
scandals in his book and claims to
have some very lively evidence to offer.
The liveliest part of his journey was
ON the Benz River, where it was worth
mans life to take a bath and where
he lost his boat. his provisions, anu the
Waterbury watches with which he was
purchasing all sorts of valuable things
from the natives. But he got through
in spite of insects and monsters, and
having only one day of fever in land
where fever grows on every bush he
satisfied himself that scientific use of
quinine makes man impervious TO it.
Among the wonders which the doctor
met was Il half-pound fish, so sensitive
that it attacked anything which caused
a commotion in the water and so fierce
that it would kill horse or man in
crossing stream 100 feet wide. He
found tribe of Indians so virtuous
that they tied the unfaithful to ant
trees and the little insects would eat
them alive, stripping the bones in less
than twenty-four hours. In brief, he
had great time.-N. T. World.